Tag Archives: flash mob

In light of last week’s US Air Force Band “flash mob” at the Smithsonian, it’s worth remembering that Michael “Mikey” Weinstein’s incessant email campaign of harassment against ChristianFighterPilot.com took no holiday. In his attempts to harass this site into bowing to his demands, Weinstein even tried to take the joy out of the Christmas season.

It was December 2013 when the US Air Force Band first famously “flash mobbed” the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. They played “Joy to the World.” This site recounted that event, complete with the video, here.

The US Air Force Band continued its annual tradition of a “flash mob” performance of holiday songs. This year was less “flash” and more “mob,” given the use of prepositioned stages, but, in a refreshing surprise, the “holiday” songs clearly referred to the “holy” day:

This year’s event featured two Christmas carols: “Patapan,” which the vocalists sang in French and English, and “Ding Dong Merrily on High,” which is based on a French dance tune originally by Jehan Tabourot, with the text being written by English composer George Ratcliffe Woodward.

This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing: Haste, haste to bring Him laud, The babe, the son of Mary.

Continuing a tradition begun last year, the US Air Force Band “flash mobbed” the Smithsonian and performed What Child is This? and Carol of the Bells, to the delight of the crowd:

The Air Force Times Flightlines blog noted that the official Air Force Band website said the first song was Greensleeves. While Greensleeves is the same tune as What Child is This?, the vocalists were clearly singing the lyrics to the latter.